Skirt-rule.



E. C. WATTERS.

SKIRT RULE.

APPLICATION HLBD JUNE 2s. 1913.

Patented 001.2111914.

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EDWARD C. WATTERS, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSGURI.

SKIRT-RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Application led June 23, 1913. Serial No. 775,364.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. lAirrERs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Rules; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, Vand exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to skirt-rules, and is an improvement on a skirtrule disclosed in vmy co-pending application, Serial No. 740,443, theprincipal object of the present invention being to provide improvedmeans for securing the measurements of a skirt, and whereby saidmeasurements and the sweep of the skirt may be set on the rule andpositively retained while a pattern is being drafted. In accomplishingthis object I have provided a rule body having its edges curved tocorrespond with the average waist angle and hip curve, and provided withmarkers whereby cert-ain measurements, such as those indicating theskirt gores, may be utilized for each individual pattern and returned toset position after the pattern has been drafted; the sweep of the skirtbeing indicated by an adjustable rail, which is connected with the bodyrule.

In carrying out my invention I have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferied forms of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, Y wherein q Figure I is a side view of skirt ruleconstructed according to my invention, showing the auxiliary straightedge in extended position. Fig. II is an enlarged detail perspective ofpart of the rule body, showing a straight edge and a pocket in the rulebody. Fig. III is an enlarged detail view of the inner end of the rulebody and joint member, for removably attaching said body to the rail.Fig. IV is a view of the same parts with part of the joint member brokenaway to illustrate the lock mechanism. Fig. V is a diagrammaticperspective of part of the rule body and joint member, the parts beingseparated, but shown in their relative positions. Fig. VI is a detailperspective and cross-section of part of the rule body showing theconstruction and arrangement of the body spaced arms 3, having heads t.Overlying both sides of the spine 2 are face plates 6, which are curvedto correspond with the curvatur'e of the spine, and have their edgesterminating in the edge planes thereof, so

that when the parts are secured together they forni asubstantially rigidstructure,`the heads d being spaced sufliciently to form ports 7 at oneedge of the rule, within which the shanks of the individual markershereinafter described, may be projected.

Overlying one edge of the body member is a guard 9, ycomprising achanneled member into which the rear edge of the rule body is adapted tofit snugly, and within which said edge is rigidly secured, the guardbeing preferably constructed of suitable metal so as to obviate denting,or the like. The front edge ofthe body member is provided with a guard10, also comprising a channel construction, and having an extended rib11 at the bottom, which projects beyond the edge of the rule body toform a shelf, the base of the channel being provided with apertures 12,that register with the ports 7 between the spine heads, in order thatthe markers may slide between the spine heads and in the y the apertures12 and ports 7 and having y'a y head 15 at its inner end adapted forengagenientv` with the spinelieads l to retain the marker within thebody, and having an upturned lip 16 at its outer end that serves as afinger hold when the markers are to be drawn outwardly, and as a keeperto prevent the marker from projecting too far into the rule body.

rIhe preferred construction of the marker consists of a single strip ofspring .metal bent upon itself, with the free ends located within thespine socket and provided with the keeper heads, the ends being loose inthe rule body, to .form friction brakes that will hold the markers inadjusted positions.

In the preferred construction of the device, the body member 1 isprovided with a pocket 18 in the guard 9 With a slot 19, and lingerslots 20, the former providing access to the pocket so that a straightedge 21 may be carried in the rule body and extended to form a straightedge continuation with the back edge of the rule. rlhe finger' slots 2Oprovide means for drawing the straight edge from its pocket, so that itmay be fully inserted into the pocket, and thereby obviate interferenceWhen the rule is to be used without the extension.

I'Vhile the parts above described are useful as a measuring device forthe purposes mentioned, I find that by providing` the rule body with anadjustable rail, the siveep of a skirt may be easily and quicklyascertained and marked by the rule. As a convenient joint for the rulebody and rail, I provide the body with a connection member 22,comprising side plates 23 that overlie the inner ends of the spine 2 andinclose a plug 24, having a circular head 25 provided With teeth 26 atits outer end, the plates 23 also overlyingl the head 25 and havingteeth registering With those of the head teeth. The rail 27 may be ofanysuitable or ordinary constructionpreferably jointed-and having a member28 at its inner end comprising a body 29 having the socket plug 30 atits rear end, and a head 31 at its forward end having a concave recess32 adapted to lie over the toothed part of the joint head on the bodymember and having a back-cut recess 33 into Which a stiff flat spring34, that is secured rigidly in the head 31, is projected. The spring 34has a toothed head 35 adapted for engaging the toothed part of the jointhead on the body member to hold the parts in an adjusted position. Therail joint `member alsol comprises side plates 37, which are Xed to therail body and to the joint member 29, and have inner ends overlying thecurved head of the body member joint, the overlying plates havingapertures 38, and the head 25 and plates 23 having an aperture 39through which a pin 40 is projected to pivotally connect the parts.

The sides of the body guard 9 have concave recesses 42 into Which thecurved ends 43 of the rail plates 37 turn when the rule arts are movedrelative to each other, and

ear against said plate in order -to retain the parts as rigid aspossible. In order to adjust the rule body and rail to the proper anglerelative to each other, I provide the joint member 28 withcircumferential graduation marks 45, and the rule body with a pointer 46so that the rule may be turned .to a desired angle, and the angle ofadjustment shown by the indicator.

In assembling the body portion of the rule, one of the face platesd isapplied to the spine, and the heads 16 of the markers projected throughthe apertures 12 in the guard 10 and applied to the spine, so that theshanks 14 lie Within the spaces between the heads 4 and the marker heads15 Within the spaces between the fingers 3. The other face plate 6 isthen applied to the spine, covering the marker shanks and stop heads, toprevent escape of markers, and the guards fitted properly over theinclosing face plates and Xed permanently thereto. The rule body is thenpivotally connected with the rail, the head of the spring 34 projectingbetween teeth on the head of the body joint member.

In using the rule, the usual skirt measurements are taken and indicatedon the rule body by pulling a marker out of its socket at a measurementpoint during the measuring process, so that when the pattern is beingmarked, the drawn markers will indicate the proper measurements. Thesweep of the skirt is ascertained by placing the rail on the floor, andmoving the rule body to the desired angle, the toothed head moving overthe spring until the adjustment is secured, ivhen the parts are heldyieldingly together by projection of the spring head into the toothedhead, so that the rule and rail are held in their adjusted position, thesweep being marked on the pattern from these parts.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A skirt rule, comprising a body member haying markers arranged atintervals along its longitudinal edge, and a guard member on the edge ofsaid body having a rib projecting laterally therefrom, and back of themarkers.

2. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having socketsalong one longitudinal edge, and markers slidably mounted in saidsockets and adapted for lateral projection from the edge of the spine,and a guard on said body member having a rib lyingv back of saidmarkers.

3. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having spaced armsprojecting laterally from one edge, and having keeper' heads on theirouter ends, markers 'located Within the sockets formed by said arms, andhaving heads adapted for engagement With the keeper heads, and platescovering opposite faces of the spine and inclosing the sockets.

4. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having socketsalong one longitudinal edge, and having keeper heads at the ends of thesockets, face plates on opposite sides of the body member, and markersarranged in said sockets in frictional contact with the face plates, andhaving heads adapted for engagement With the keeper heads.

5. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having socketsalong one longitudinal edge, face plates inclosing opposite sides of thespine, a guard fixed on said face plates and provided with an edge facehaving aperturesin line With the spine sockets, and markers slidablymounted in said sockets and apertures.

6. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having socketsalong one longitudinal edge, face plates inclosing opposite sides of thespine, a guard fiXedon said face plates and provided with an edged facehaving apertures in line With the spine sockets, and markers slidablymounted in said sockets and apertures, each of said markers comprising ashank having a headed inner end and upturned outer end, for the purposeset forth.

7. In a skirt rule, a body member comprising a spine having spaced armsprojecting laterally from one longitudinal edge and having keeper heads,plates lying along opposite sides of the spine and covering said arms, aguard fixed to the edge of the body member and having aperturesregistering with the spaces between the arm heads, and keepers slidablymounted in said apertures, each of the keepers comprising a single pieceof spring metal bent upon itself with the free ends directed outwardlyand provided with keeper heads edepeed fer coperation With the heads onthe spine f arms,`the outer heads of said markers being upturned toengage the face of the guard, substantially as set forth. y

8. In a skirt rule, a body member having edge sockets, a guard Xed tothe edge of the body and having a projecting base flange and aperturesin front of the flange registering With the body sockets, and markersslidably mounted in the apertures and sockets and adapted for projectionover said flange.

- 9. In a skirt rule, a vbody member comprising a socket spine and faceplates covering the opposite sides thereof, guard members along oppositelongitudinal edges of the body, one of said guard members hav-` ingapertures registering With saidsockets and markers slidably mounted inthe apertures Vand body sockets, one of said guard members beingslotted,

forth.

In testimonyvvhereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

EDWARDl C. WATTERS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CAPs, LETA E. CoA'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

eusI

and having a straight edge pocket, f substantially as setv

